Race Prejudice and Discrimination: Readings in Intergroup Relations in the United States

The strongest similarity, as was mentioned above, is to be found
between a student's own observance and his attitudes. Among the
strict observers the remarkable score of 89 was attained, while
among those whose observance could be classified as "considerable" the average was also excellent--49. "Occasional" observers
rated a score of 23, which is fair, while the students who observed
rarely or not at all were last with minus 10.

There can be no question that a student who has no knowledge
of Jewish practice either from home environment or from education will not merely have a neutral attitude toward Judaism but
in the great majority of cases will definitely tend toward negative
attitudes, toward the disparagement of Jewish values and dissociation from Jewish life. On the other hand, those who have Jewish
knowledge, and especially those who come from observant homes
and are themselves observant Jews, are far more likely to believe
in the worthwhileness of Jewish survival and of continued adherence to Jewish principles. The future of organized Jewish life will
have to depend primarily upon the strengthening of observance,
especially in the home, and secondly upon the improvement of the
vehicles of Jewish education.

[ Group identification can best be understood in terms of its
opposite, group self-hatred. The classic statement on group self-hatred
is that by the late Professor Kurt Lewin, who was one of the outstanding psychologists of both Europe and America. The significant insights
of this report have implications for all minority groups. ]

That self-hatred is present among Jews is a fact that the
non-Jew would hardly believe, but which is well known among
the Jews themselves. It is a phenomenon which has been observed
ever since the emancipation of the Jews. Professor Lessing treated
this topic in Germany ( 1930) in a book, Der Jüdische Selbsthass
("Jewish Self-Hate"). Novels like that of Ludwig Lewisohn ( Is -

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